Popular Destinations

1. British Library^#
   It should be more popular, one of the more undiscovered treasures in London, especially if you desire something beyond what the average tourist is looking for. Like an iceberg, most of the building is underground -- the "King's Library" was made the subdued focus of the inside. The exhibit room sections are limited, but what treasures they contain -- a copy of the original Magna Carta document, illustrated Bibles, Quoran and religious documents, ancient maps, manuscript and audio of original Beatles music as well as classical music, etc.
2. British Museum
   The "central dome", finished in 2001, has dramatically transformed the British Museum, comparable to what the I.M. Pei "pyramid" has done to the Louvre Museum in Paris.
3. Buckingham Palace
   Open only during the summer until late September. Call for schedule.
4. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
   Visit during a sunny day. Consider spending a whole day (or perhaps more, if you have the time), especially during the early summer when the flowers are just beginning to bloom.
5. Museum of London
   Free after 4:30 pm
6. Madame Tussauds*
   I opted not to visit this popular attraction.
7. The National Gallery ^#
   The main repository of the British collections of international art, up to the end of 19th century. [Visit the Tate Museum for modern art collections, as well as those by British artists.] A day is not enough to view the entire collection. Open until 8 pm on Wednesdays (and there is a free concert at 6 pm inside, featuring music students).
8. Natural History Museum**
9. National Portrait Gallery^#
10. Science Museum**
11. Tate Gallery, London^#
    Tate has several museums in London and other places in the UK. In London, the Tate Modern is a must if you love "modern art". The old Tate (I believe now called Tate UK) focuses in British Art. If you love Turner, a separate Gallery houses the Turner collection of the museum.
12. Tower of London*
13. Victoria and Albert Museum**
    The Victoria and Albert Museum is a collection of museums all over London and the UK. It is the equivalent of the Smithsonian museums in Washinton, D.C., with a distinct British flavor, of course. While the presentation of many of the exhibits leaves much to be desired , the main museum is a must see -- it tried to "collect everything".
14. Westminster Abbey*
    

Consider visiting

1. St. Paul Cathedral
   Eat your lunch in the Cathedral's garden-park and then attend the evensong, at 5pm (?). [You have to pay a nominal fee to get in at other times.]
2. Sir John Soane's Museum
3. The Wallace Collection
4. BBC Experience

For Royalty Buffs

1. The Royal Collection
   inside Buckingham Palace or the The Queen's Gallery -- open only during certain months of the year (be sure to check the calendar). An alternative is to visit Windsor Castle in Windsor, where there is also an impressive Royal Collection. Part of the Raphael Collection of the Queen are also found at the Victoria and Albert Museum
2. The Royal Mews
   Visit this only if you have too much time; there are so many other places in London and other neaby cities (Cambridge, Oxford, etc.) that are worth seeing.
3. Kensington Palace.
   If I have to choose between Kensington Palace and Windsor Castle, my choice will be Windsor Castle by a wide margin.

Parks and Gardens

1. St. James Park
   My favorite in London. Aside from being very beautiful, it is close to Buckingham Palace. Thus, it is a natural place to have your lunch, if you decide to spend the morning viewing the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace and visiting the nearby museums.
2. Kensington Gardens
3. Hyde Park
4. Green Park
5. Regent's Park

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